Natural Teeth Grinding Cures: Learn the Causes of this Common Occurrence and What You Can Do to Stop Teeth Grinding Naturally

Causes of Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, also referred to as bruxism, may be a habit that you don’t even know you have. Sometimes people don’t realize that they grind their teeth until someone sleeps in the same bed with them. Common causes of teeth grinding include stress and anxiety, but missing or abnormal teeth and an abnormal bite can cause this habit too.

Signs of bruxism include tenderness of the jaw, headaches and teeth abnormalities such as fractures, tooth loss and wear. If your teeth grinding is a chronic problem and left untreated, you might end up needing dentures or experiencing hearing loss and TMD/TMJ. To avoid damaging your teeth and spending money on crowns, root canals or dentures, you can follow some tips to prevent night time teeth grinding.

Teeth Grinding Cure

If a thorough dental check-up finds that your teeth are in proper alignment and health, stress may be the cause of your grinding. Although taking a muscle relaxer before bed may sound tempting, there are drug free options that you can try first.

Before you go to sleep, prepare for a relaxing night by drinking a cup of soothing tea. Avoid caffeinated drinks as well as snacks like chocolate. If you feel tension in your jaw, perform a quick self-massage by moving your fingertips in circles over your jaw muscles. Another option is to place a warm washcloth over your face. Keeping lavender essential oil around the house is a good idea too, because you can put a few drops on a piece of paper towel and set it next to your bed. Taking in a few deep breaths of the lavender scent can calm your body and mind, and lying flat on your back can prevent teeth clenching.

During the day, be aware of your posture. For example, if you notice that you clench your teeth, work on releasing those muscles and allowing your teeth to rest so there is space between your upper and lower jaw. Lastly, finding a way to relieve your anxiety and stress may be key. Start a routine during the morning, afternoon and evening where you do some deep breathing. Or exercise more often to feel a sense of relief. Yoga combines stretching and breathing, so this can be an effective exercise route to try.

Teeth grinding can cause damage to your teeth, and dental repair isn’t cheap. Using these techniques in your life may help you stop this habit. However, if your grinding is chronic, you may need a dentist’s advice and maybe even a mouth guard to protect your pearly whites.

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